Friends in the south are beginning to share butterfly photos on social media, so I'm dreaming about what's to come and remembering sightings from last year.
Here's a review of 2023 butterfly sightings--in my garden, and during hikes and butterfly surveys. I generally report counts and species I see to wisconsinbutterflies.org. There were many more of some of these species...and others not included here. I didn't include them all because the post would get too expansive and some of the photos weren't very good.
It was a pretty good year, although with fewer monarchs than in the past; probably because of the drought.
 |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail |
 |
| Monarch |
 |
| Common Buckeye |
 |
| 'Summer' Spring Azure |
 |
| Eastern Tiger Swallowtail black form female |
 |
| Great Spangled Fritillary |
 |
| Clouded Sulphur |
 |
| Silver-Spotted Skipper |
 |
| Red Admiral |
 |
| Cabbage White |
 |
| Pearl Crescent |
 |
| Black Swallowtail |
 |
| Monarch |
 |
| Aphrodite Fritillary |
 |
| Viceroy |
Here's to happy, healthy butterfly viewing in the months ahead!
How amazing to see so many different kinds! I have so many flowers, and loads of different bees and other pollinating insects, but few butterflies. I have no idea why. A single monarch may stop by, and a few times a swallowtail was seen, usually flying right over the yard and gone.
ReplyDeleteLisa: It's so interesting how different locations and garden zones and spots vary. Not all these butterflies were in my garden. Many were in parks and locations nearby. They bring so much joy, don't they?
DeleteA beautiful butterfly display, Beth. I look forward to their arrival too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kris. I would think you'd have butterfly visitors year-round? But maybe more during March through November?
DeleteSuch great shots and I hope you have another good year of butterflies! I love the photo of the Aphrodite Fritillary--what a cute face! Tina
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tina. :) I agree about the Aphrodite. They're all so special in their own ways. It's a good day when we see butterflies, right?
DeleteI am overjoyed to see your butterflies, Beth! Wonderful photos. The Aphrodite Fritillary is a new one for me. It's lovely. I saw my first butterfly this week and I believe it was a cabbage white but I couldn't rush outside quickly enough for a closer look.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susie. :) All the Fritillaries amaze me...well all the species, do. I hope we'll both see many beautiful butterflies this growing season.
DeleteI am so excited for the butterfly season. With the big warm up I was thinking I will spy a Mourning Cloak in the month of March. The Mourning Cloak is usually my first butterfly sighting of the season.
ReplyDeleteCarla
I agree: Hope to see some Mourning Cloaks soon! My husband saw a butterfly once in February several years ago, and he thinks it was a Mourning Cloak.
DeleteI love the variety you have there. Here I see some of these, but not nearly as many as in my old garden. I hope as this area settles after construction we will see more.
ReplyDeleteMost of these were photographed in the surrounding area, and a few in my garden. Because of the shade here, I see more butterflies out in sunny areas where I do surveys. But some butterflies at certain times of year love the sunny spots here, and some, including some swallowtails, enjoy the shade. :)
DeleteOh wow! I am amazed at the quality of the photos that did turn out. I have a hard time photographing anything that moves, but I rely solely on my phone camera for convenience sake. Probably not the best for moving objects. The speckled eyes and wings on the Aphrodite Fritillary are enchanting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jerry. The telephoto setting on my Canon PowerShot helps tremendously with the butterfly photos. Sometimes I get lucky with my phone, but it's not as reliable. It's especially fun when I get a photo of a butterfly that I haven't documented previously, which was the case with the Aphrodite Fritillary.
DeleteThese beautiful pictures are getting me in the mood for spring.
DeleteJeannie@GetMeToTheCountry
Thanks, Jeannie. I'm ready for spring, too. :)
DeleteThat is a great survey! So many beauties in excellent photos. Well done!
ReplyDeleteHere very happy to see more butterflies the past 2 or 3 years after the long drought of 2011-2018 made them scarce. Monarchs come through but they move so fast I rarely get a picture. Did see a Mourning Cloak this past weekend.
Thanks. It's truly a joy to see them and track them. I haven't seen any Mourning Cloaks yet, but I see that some folks have here in the state (wisconsinbutterflies.org). That's usually the first species we see in the early spring. I'm glad the butterflies are more plentiful for you now. :)
DeleteWhat an amazing collection of butterflies you have. I hope this year is just as good for your butterfly photography. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you. :) It's definitely something to look forward to each year. I hope there will be many butterflies in your life this year, too.
DeleteBeautiful butterflies!
ReplyDeleteHave a blessed day!
Thanks, Lea. You, too!
Delete